Device for golf training

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for golf training including a standard golf ball and an aerodynamic braking member secured thereto by means of a flexible tie, said braking member having incorporated therein a substantially rigid support member with a head integral therewith, which head is adapted to receive said golf ball before hitting the same.

United States Patent Peyroux [54] DEVICE FOR GOLF TRAINING I [72] Inventor: Marie Alexandre Jacques Louis Peyroux, 22, avenue de la Grande Armee, l7-Paris 17, France [22] Filed: March 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 125,746

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 17, 1971 France ..7105353 [52] US. Cl ..273/l99 A, 273/212, 273/198 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 69/36 [58] Field of Search ..273/l99, 200, 183, 33, 212, 273/195, 196, 197, 198

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 883,058 3/1908 Sprague., ..273/2 )0 1 Oct. 10,1972

1,504,752 8/1924 Green ..273/200 R X 1,528,909 3/1925 Bullard ..273/200 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,495,597 8/1967 France ..273/199 A 16,231 1910 Great Britain ..273/199 A Primary Eicaminer-George J. Marlo Att0meyNolte and Nolte ABS IRACT The invention relates to a device for golf training including a standard golf ball and an aerodynamic braking member secured thereto by means of a flexible tie, said braking member having incorporated therein a substantially rigid support member with a head integral therewith, which head is adapted to receive said golf ball before hitting the same.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing figures DEVICE FOR GOLF TRAINING This invention essentially relates to a training golf ball and more precisely concerns a device for golf training including a standard golf ball, an aerodynamic braking element having an axis of symmetry and a flexible tie connecting said golf ball to said braking member.

A device of the aforementioned type and comprising in particular a substantially rigid braking member having a symmetry of revolution and being attached to a standard golf ball by means of a flexible and/or articulated tie, has already been proposed.

Such a device of the prior art made it possible to practise golf training while being in the real conditions of the game. Indeed, as soon as the ball has been hit by the player, the braking member which presents a small inertia, immediately follows in the wake of said ball and does not modify its trajectory. l-leretofore, it was then possible to practise golf training while using a standard golf ball the trajectory of which could be considerably shortened without being disturbed.

However, golf players had to put the ball of the device on a tee in order to properly use said device. The tee was therefore separate from the device and it happened that such a tee was lost by the player.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for golf training in which a tee-shaped support is incorporated to. the braking member.

Such a support which receives the ball before hitting the same is therefore connected to the ball and cannot be lost. Furthermore, the device according to the invention provides a complete system which can be used anywhere and without waste of time.

It is another object of the invention to provide a readily usable device for golf training which includes a substantially rigid support member incorporated to the braking member, said support member having a head integral therewith, which head is adapted to receive said golf ball before hitting the same.

According to the present invention, golf players may practise their training while being in the quite real conditions of the game.

According to another feature of the invention, the aforementioned support member comprises a tapered stem portion which extends from said head, said stem portion being adapted to be driven into the ground and being disposed along the axis of symmetry of said braking member.

It is another object of the invention to provide a support member including a substantially conical hollow base member adapted to simply rest upon the ground, the apex of said conical base member being integrally connected to said head by means of a small rod.

The device according to the invention may be therefore provided with either a support member adapted to be driven into the ground or a substantially conical base member which simply rests upon the ground.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the braking member is constituted by a tassel of plastics strips solid with said head and surrounding said support member.

When the device is to be used, it is then possible to set the supple plastic strips between the support head and the ground beside or a little away from said support member, so as to avoid hindering the player when hitting the ball.

According to another feature of the invention, said flexible tie includes a fine metallic chain connected at one end to said golf ball by means of a staple or the like and at the opposite end to said head through an open ring which may freely rotate inside the latter.

Such an open ring can advantageously rotate inside the support head, so that the connection between the ball and the braking member has the required flexibility.

For a better understanding of the present invention, in all its aspects, reference should be made to the following specification and the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation viewof one first embodiment of the device according to the invention, showing a braking member with a support incorporated therein, the latter being driven into the ground and adapted to receive the ball to be hit;

FIG. 2 illustrates, in a side view, the device shown in FIG. 1 when in flight; and

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a braking member with a support incorporated therein according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

According to one first embodiment of the invention and referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a device for golf training according to the invention essentially includes a normal or standard golf ball 1, a tee-shaped braking member 2, and a flexible tie 3 connected by its ends to the ball 1 and the braking member 2.

More specifically, the braking member 2 is constituted by a number of plastic strips or filaments 4 which are integrally mounted in a head 5 of a support member 6 which is in fact a tee.

The tee-shaped support member 6 includes a tapered stem portion 7 integral with the head 5 of said support and adapted to be driven into the ground 8.

The flexible tie 3 between the ball 1 and the braking member 2 is constituted by a fine chain 9 one end of which is secured to the ball l by means of a staple l0 driven into said ball, and the other end of which comprises a snap-hook or the like 15 connected to the head 5 of the support member 6 through an open ring 1 1.

More precisely, the two ends 13 of the open ring 11 can freely rotate inside the head 5, said ends being mounted inside two diametrally opposed apertures 12 of said head.

The tee-shaped support member 6 is preferably made of plastics, the stern portion 7 of which being integrally moulded with the substantially circular head 5. The top of head 5 advantageously includes a concave portion 14 on which the ball 1 may rest before being hit.

Referring now to FIG. 3 showing a second embodiment of a braking member according to the invention, it is seen that such a braking member 20 includes a teeshaped support constituted by a base member 21 adapted to simply rest upon the ground and connected to the support head 5 by an intermediary part 22 which has the form of a small rod. The base member 21 is preferably hollow and conical in configuration. The head 5, the rod 22 and the conical base member 21 ad vantageously form a unitary, single-piece and integrally moulded assembly. Such an assembly looks like a mushroom the foot of which is somewhat flared so as to seat well upon the ground when resting upon the latter.

This embodiment also includes a tassel of supple plastics filaments 4 gripped within the support head 5 as well as an open ring 11 rotatably connected thereto.

The functioning of the device according to the invention is readily understood from the previous description.

As it clearly appears from FIG. 1, the player drives the tee-shaped support member 6 into the ground or sets the conical base member 21 upon the ground (FIG. 3). Then, the player puts the ball I connected to the support by the fine chain 9, on the concave portion 14 of the support member. The latter being so installed, the tassel 4 can be easily placed forwards so as to avoid hindering the ball 1 to be hit by a club (not shown) for example, in the direction of arrow A.

When the ball has been hit, the brake member together with the tee follows exactly the trajectory of the ball hit by the club for example, in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2, and that from the very departure of the ball.

Thus, a device for golf training according to the invention presents a great flexibility in use and exactly reproduces the normal conditions of golf, while the trajectory of the ball is considerably shortened, so that the latter can be used on courses of any dimensions for that purpose or not. These courses may obviously have any size depending upon the trajectory which is sought for. Moreover, it is important to note that the teeshaped support member is quite compatible with the tassel of flexible filaments from the geometrical point of view, so that the support member together with the braking member constitute an aerodynamic braking system.

Of course, the invention is by no means limited to the forms of embodiment described and illustrated, which have been given by way of example only. In particular the invention comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations, if

these are carried out according to the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. in a device for golf training including a golf ball, an aerodynamic braking member having an axis of symmetry and a flexible tie connecting said golf ball to said braking member, so that said ball in flight exerts a pulling force on said braking member generally in alignment with said axis of symmetry, the improvements consisting in that said braking member has incorporated therein a substantially rigid support member with a head integral therewith, said support member forming a tee support for the ball and said head being adapted to receive said golf ball before hitting the same.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said support member comprises a tapered stem portion which extends from said head, said stem portion being adapted to be driven into the ground and being disposed along the axis of symmetry of said braking member.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said support member includes a substantially conical hollow base member adapted to simply rest upon the ground, the apex of said conical base member being integrally c ted t 'd head b me s of a small rod.

i fdevi e izcordingio cl i m 1, wherein said braking member includes a tassel of plastics strips surrounding said support member and being attached by one end to said head whereas the other end of said strips is free to move according to the flight axis of said ball while exerting a drag on same.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said flexible tie includes a fine metallic chain connected at one end to said golf ball by means of a staple and at the opposite end to said head through an open ring which is adapted to freely rotate in the latter. 

1. In a device for golf training including a golf ball, an aerodynamic braking member having an axis of symmetry and a flexible tie connecting said golf ball to said braking member, so that said ball in flight exerts a pulling force on said braking member generally in alignment with said axis of symmetry, the improvements consisting in that said braking member has incorporated therein a substantially rigid support member with a head integral therewith, said support member forming a tee support for the ball and said head being adapted to receive said golf ball before hitting the same.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said support member comprises a tapered stem portion which extends from said head, said stem portion being adapted to be driven into the ground and being disposed along the axis of symmetry of said braking member.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said support member includes a substantially conical hollow base member adapted to simply rest upon the ground, the apex of said conical base member being integrally connected to said head by means of a small rod.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said braking member includes a tassel of plastics strips surrounding said support member and being attached by one end to said head whereas the other end of said strips is free to move according to the flight axis of said ball while exerting a drag on same.
 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said flexible tie includes a fine metallic chain connected at one end to said golf ball by means of a staple and at the opposite end to said head through an open ring which is adapted to freely rotate in the latter. 